DATE=11/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241954
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN'S FOREIGN OFFICE IS HOSTING A MEETING OF IRAQI
OPPOSITION GROUPS TO RE-ENFORCE BRITISH SUPPORT FOR THEIR
STRUGGLE TO CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THIS MEETING HAS TAKEN ON
MORE SIGNIFICANCE AFTER PUBLIC STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH
U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR.
TEXT: A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FOREIGN OFFICE SAYS 15 GROUPS HAVE
BEEN INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO THE MEETING, WHICH WILL
TAKE PLACE MONDAY IN LONDON. BRITAIN HAS HELD SIMILAR MEETINGS
DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS.
BUT NABIL MUSAWI OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS SAYS THIS MEETING
TAKES ON ADDED IMPORTANCE IN THE WAKE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST
CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. MR. MUSAWI WILL REPRESENT
THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT THE MEETING.
/// MUSAWI ACT ///
THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT IN LIGHT OF STATEMENT MADE BY
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR IN PARLIAMENT REGARDING THE
BRITISH INTENTION OF HELPING, AS HE CALLED IT, THE
FORCES OF DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN IRAQ AND TO DISCUSS WAYS
IN WHICH BRITISH GOVERNMENT CAN HELP THE IRAQI
OPPOSITION TO ADVANCE ITS CAUSE. PLUS, THE FACT THAT
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY STATED ITS POSITION
THAT IT INTENDS TO FULLY SUPPORT THE IRAQI NATIONAL
CONGRESS POLITICALLY, FINANCIALLY AND MILITARILY TO
CARRY OUT CHANGE INSIDE IRAQ.
/// END ACT ///
MR. MUSAWI SAYS THE HIGH-LEVEL U-S AND BRITISH STATEMENTS ARE THE
CLEAREST SIGNS OF SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS TO OUST SADDAM HUSSEIN
SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR. HE POINTS TO THE U-S
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR NEARLY 100-MILLION DOLLARS IN AID AND
HOPES FOR PLEDGES OF MORE PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE FROM BRITAIN TOO.
/// MUSAWI SECOND ACT ///
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ALLIES GETTING IN A
MILITARY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE IRAQI REGIME. THIS IS OUR
DUTY TO GET RID OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. WE NEED SUPPORT FROM
BEHIND. WE NEED THE GENTLE PUSH IN THE SENSE OF
DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT. WE NEED SUPPORT FROM BRITAIN AND
UNITED STATES TO DELEGITIMATIZE THE SADDAM HUSSEIN
REGIME AND TO HELP THE OPPOSITION GAIN INTERNATIONAL
CREDIBILITY AND TO GAIN STRENGTH TO WORK INSIDE IRAQ
/// END ACT ///
MR. MUSAWI DISMISSES CRITICISM OF THE OPPOSITION AS A FRACTURED
MOVEMENT THAT LACKS COORDINATION, ORGANIZATION AND CLEAR AIMS.
/// OPT // MUSAWI THIRD ACT ///
THE IRAQI OPPOSITION IS DEFINITELY UNITED IN ITS
ULTIMATE AIM WHICH IS TO GET RID OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, TO
ESTABLISH A DEMOCRATIC REGIME IN IRAQ, TO HOLD
ELECTIONS, TO EASE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. AS
FAR AS DIFFERENCES IN IDEOLOGY IS CONCERNED, IT HAS
ALWAYS EXISTED BETWEEN IRAQI POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE
OPPOSITION, THE SAME WAY IT DOES BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS AND LABOR AND CONSERVATIVE PARTIES IN
BRITAIN.
/// END ACT ///
THE IRAQI DISSIDENT SAYS THE DIFFERENT KURDISH, SHIITE AND SUNNI
MUSLIM OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING ON
MONDAY.(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/KL
20-Nov-98 11:24 AM EST (1624 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.